Work Text:
Iris was having coffee with her friend Linda when she got the call. She didn’t quite get all the information. She stopped listening after hearing “Barry’s been badly injured.” She dropped her phone and started to shake, alarming her friend who quickly picked up the phone and spoke to the detective on the phone. The detective informs Linda of Barry’s accident. It’s bad. Really bad. He’s been taken to Central City Hospital. Linda hangs up and helps Iris to her feet, guiding her to her car. She opens the passenger door and gets her friend in. Running around to the other side, she drives as quickly as she can to the hospital.
Iris’ mind is running in a thousand different ways. She had just found out that morning that she was pregnant. She had been feeling off for a couple of weeks and decided to grab a couple pregnancy tests yesterday on her way home. If she were indeed pregnant, she wanted to surprise Barry. They’d decided to try to get pregnant and she couldn’t believe how lucky she was to get pregnant on their first try. She can’t lose Barry now. He’s been her whole life.
When she was 4 years old, this new kid came into her kindergarten class. He was shy and didn’t speak much to the other kids. One day during their art time, Iris asked Jason if she could have some of his green paint so that she could paint the leaves on her trees. He told her no and refused to share. Barry, hearing what happened, walks over and hands Iris his green paint. She thanks him and returns to finish her painting. She kept looking at him and smiled when he looked at her. During recess, Barry sat alone looking like he wanted to join in with some of the kids but he couldn’t bring himself to. So she walked up to him, and asked him to play on the slides with her. He perked up and smiled at her, joining her going down the slides over and over again. That day she declared that she was his best friend. Barry just smiled at her and that made her smile.
When she was 9 years old, Iris got the flu over the Christmas break. She was really upset because Barry’s parents were going to take them to see the Santa Claus parade and then for hot chocolate. Christmas was her favourite time of the year and now because she had the flu, she couldn’t go. Barry could see how disappointed she was. He asked his mom to make her some chicken noodle soup and took it over to her. He also brought along some brownies that he himself made as well as the newest Nancy Drew book for her to read. He hung out with her the entire break. Covering her with blankets when she got cold, monitoring her fluid intake and her fever. His dad, being a doctor, instructed him on what to look for. When she asked why he would do all this for her, he shrugged his shoulders and said, “Because you’re my best friend and that’s what best friends do.” She felt butterflies in her stomach. She begins to develop a crush on him. She wouldn’t tell a soul. Except maybe her diary.
When she was 15 years old, Iris and Barry started Central City High. Being a freshman in high school was so exciting but yet intimidating. There were so many new things to try out for. She always loved writing and joined the creative writing club with the hopes of one day being the next Soledad O’Brien. She decides to also join the foreign language club after falling in love with the movie “Life is Beautiful”. She hopes to someday learn Italian. Barry’s love of science and movies took him to the science club and drama club. They were so busy with their various after school clubs that they barely had time to spend with each other. She missed her best friend. That all changed when Lizzie Smith caught her boyfriend Scott making out with Barry’s girlfriend Becky. Iris had been waiting for Barry to ask her out but he never did so she started dating Scott to make him jealous. Shortly afterwards he started dating Becky. She never liked Becky. Never thought she was good enough for Barry. Now the entire school knew about the cheating and it became too much to handle on her own. She reached out to Barry for comfort and he was eager to provide it. This sordid situation reunited the best friends and they promised to never drift apart again. Iris was thrilled to have him in her life again. Another entry for her journal.
When she was 19 years old, Iris watched as Barry left for Coast City College. He wanted to become a CSI and Coast City College had the most reputable program in the country. She stayed behind in Central City, living at home and studying Journalism at Central City College. She never told him that she cried herself to sleep that night he left. They take turns calling each other on Sundays, even though they’re both swamped with assignments. She missed him being close to her. She loved that no matter how busy they got, they always took time for each other. Over the Christmas break, they spent most of it together. Iris loved that she had his undivided attention for all that time. In a way, for that short period of time, he was hers and hers alone. She loves him. And this brief time together confirms it. However, as soon as they got back to college, life took over. With the course loads bigger and more intense, she and Barry stopped communicating all together. It was gradual but inevitable given how busy they’d both become.
When she was 23 years old, Iris got engaged to Eddie. She was happy. Eddie loved her dearly and she loved him. They had been together for a couple of years now and for the most part she was happy. She still thought about Barry. It had been a while since they had seen each other but she still thought about him all the time. As fate would have it, she and Eddie ran into Barry and his girlfriend, Patty at the farmer’s market one Sunday morning. She had no idea he had returned to Central City. She would never admit out loud that her heart skipped a beat at the sight of him. Somehow, he had gotten more handsome since she last saw him. She hated that he was with someone who wasn’t her. Of course she was being irrational since she was newly engaged. But her heart was always his. And now that he’s back, why shouldn’t they have that chance.
When she was 25 years, Iris ended her engagement and relationship with Eddie. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t stop thinking about Barry. She had always loved him. Only now, she understands the extent and depth of her love for him. She tried convincing herself that she only loved him as a friend but looking back at their lives, she realises that it was a love so deep that it defied definition. She had to talk to him. She had to tell him how she felt. How much he has meant to her all these years. She can’t wait for him to come to her. She has to tell him. She knows she’s taking a chance. What if he doesn’t feel the same way. What if it’s all in her head. She doesn’t care. She calls him and asks him to meet up for coffee. He agrees and her heart beats a thousand times faster. As soon as she sees him, she blurts out that she and Eddie are done because she loves him. Has always loved him. Will always love him. She sees him smile at her. He tells her that he and Patty are over as well and that he feels the same. Has always felt the same way. Iris feels like she is floating on cloud 9. The only man she’s ever truly loved, loves her back.
When she was 26 years old, Iris said yes to his proposal. He wants her to be his partner in life forever. She can’t believe it. Her best friend is now her fiancé. She loves the way he looks at her when he thinks she’s not looking. He’s so supportive of her work at CCC Media and is always there to pick her up when it seems like she can’t go on any more. She loves his hugs that he so readily gives, just because. The way he kisses her is always so passionate and reverent. She’s the luckiest girl in the world.
When she was 28 years old, Iris’ heart was overflowing with joy as she walked down the aisle to marry the best man she’s ever known. They’re finally here. Finally, husband and wife. She can’t believe how long it had taken them to get here. That doesn’t matter now. All that matters is that he is hers and she is his. Forever. Until they are parted by death. She is elated. At long last, she can call herself Mrs. West-Allen. His. Forever.
All of those memories rush her mind as Linda drives to the hospital. She can’t lose him. Not now. She’s waited long enough to call him hers. She hasn’t had enough time with him. There’s still so much more they wanted to do together. Life cannot take him now. Not now that she’s bringing new life into this world. Their baby needs him. She needs him. As soon as the car comes to a stop, Iris rushes out and races into the hospital. She gets to the nurses’ station and enquires about her husband. She runs in the direction she’s pointed to, praying that he’s still alive. She slows down as she approaches his room. A doctor seeing her, greets her and informs her of his injuries. She begins to weep. She looks over at his body lying there and she hurts for him. She feels as if she too had been injured. Her once strapping husband is now broken and bruised, looking small and frail. She feels helpless but determined to stay strong for him. She leans over and kisses him ever so gently, careful not to cause him more pain. He tried speaking to her but nothing came out. She whispers in his ear to stay strong and fight to stay alive. For her. But not just for her, for them. Because they need him. Now more than ever. He looks at her but doesn’t understand. She whispers that she’s pregnant and they need him. She steps back and smiles at him and he loses consciousness again.
Iris doesn’t leave his side. He keeps floating in and out of consciousness. But at least he’s alive. He’s breathing. She just needs him to keep breathing. She pulls the chair in the room close beside his bed. She knows she can’t touch him even though she yearns to. She so badly wants to snuggle up beside him with her head in the crook of his neck, breathing in his scent with her arm and leg wrapped around him, holding him tight. Comforting him. Instead she rests her head at the side of the bed. She’ll stay with him for as long as he’s here. In sickness and in health. She made that vow and she intends to keep it. She drifts asleep, praying that he stays alive.
She feels a warm hand caress her face. It’s him. She knows his touch anywhere. She turns to look at him and smiles. She carefully approaches him and gives him a gentle kiss. She wishes she could kiss him earnestly the way she wants to but that will happen once he’s healed.
He greets her with a quiet “Hi” and that smile that always made her melt. He apologises for scaring her, as if he would ever do anything like that on purpose. She explains his injuries and the recovery. She swears to be there with him every step of the way. She’s determined to get him back to his old self.
He looks at her with love and then asks if she was pregnant. She smiles and confirms that she is. She was going to tell him when he got home last night. She kicks herself for not telling him right away. Maybe he would have been home sooner. Maybe he would have been with her getting coffee with Linda. She knows he wouldn't want her blaming herself. None of this is her fault. Or his. She was trying to make sense of a senseless event. But it doesn’t matter now. He’s alive and knows he’ll one day see his baby.
She nurses him back to health. He makes a quicker recovery than expected. Good thing too. Their babies will be joining them soon. And that’s all she needs in this life. Her healthy babies and the love of her life. The very best man she’s ever known. Her one and only. Her Barry.